PARADIP: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday said several industries have evinced interest to invest around Rs 2 lakh crore to develop Paradip as an industrial hub.
Inaugurating the Kalinga Balijatra at Biju Maidan here, he highlighted the growth of port-based industries in Paradip, Dhamara, Astaranga and Gopalpur. He said the state government aims to fill around three lakh vacant posts in its various departments.
While 75,000 jobs have already been created, 1.5 lakh will be created soon. He said the Rs 2 crore investment in Paradip includes eight-laning of Paradip-Barbil NH, construction of a ship building unit, construction of a coastal highway and a semi-conductor manufacturing unit connected by sea to Singapore and Puri.
The chief minister also emphasised the importance of elevating Kalinga Balijatra to national and international standards, a sentiment shared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who recognised Balijatra as an international festival. He said the festival serves as a vibrant reminder of Odisha’s rich maritime trade history.
“The Kalinga Balijatra symbolises the ancient trade and cultural relationship between the historic Kalinga (now Odisha) and Bali, currently a part of Indonesia. The festival represents the prosperity and maritime legacy of ancient Odisha, known then as Kalinga,” the chief minister said.
In 1992, to rekindle the memory of Kalinga’s maritime glory, a boat expedition was organised on Kartik Purnima, where a 13-metre yacht carrying a seven-member crew set sail for Bali from Paradip port, retracing the ancient trade route. The yacht, named ‘INS Samudra,’ covered a distance of 5,810 nautical miles in just over 17 weeks.
Since then, the Balijatra celebrations have continued annually, celebrating the region’s historic maritime traditions. Industries minister Sampad Chandra Swain, MP Bibhu Prasad Tarai, Jagatsinghpur MLA Amarendra Das, Tirtol MLA Ramakanta Bhoi, Balikuda-Erasama MLA Sarada Prasanna Jena, DIGP (Central Range) Charan Singh Meena, zilla parishad president Manoj Kumar Bhoi, Paradip municipality chairman Basant Biswal, Paradip Port Authority chairman PL Haranadh, and Jagatsinghpur SP Bhabani Shankar Udgata were present. The inaugural meeting was presided over by collector and chairman of Kalinga Balijatra Committee (KBC) J Sonal.
The event was coordinated by Paradip ADM and vice-chairman of KBC Niranjan Behera and executive officer of Paradip municipality Abhishek Panda. The week-long festival will feature cultural performances by various troupes from across the state, and live shows by Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam and others.